“Weary sailors search the horizon for a glimpse of light, the beacon that will take them home. It’s been a long, cold and rough journey at sea as they long to set foot on land again ~ families wait anxiously for these sailors to return. They take comfort in knowing the lighthouse will guide them to their hearts destination ~ ” by Mary

Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, Maine – a charcoal (and graphite) drawing (8×10) was drawn on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper using both hard, soft and loose charcoal. A lot of tools were used to obtain the different textures seen here from a cotton ball for the sky, to a tortilium and sponge applicator for the vegetation. Both kneaded and Mono-Tombow erasers were used to work the textures and highlights in the vegetation. Graphite was used for the foreground grass (to soften the look of the grass, both a tortilium and sable brush were used). It was a joy to draw this very special that I used to call home.

Two Lights is the name that was given two light house structures, that stand by each other, in Two Lights State Park of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The structures over look Casco Bay and the Atlantic ocean. The lighthouses were built in 1828 and both remained in operation until 1924 – one was sold off and is now being used as a private residence (how cool is that?) and the other lighthouse continues in operation. In 1929 a famous American artist, Edward Hopper, painted this lighthouse Lighthouse at Two Lights that hangs at The Met Fifth Avenue, Gallery 900. It is interesting to see how much vegetation has grown around the lighthouse currently from when Hoppers painted it in 1929. He painted the scene from a different angle than I did my drawing, both give interesting perspectives of this idyllic place.

Hope you enjoy a little history behind this famous Maine Lighthouse ~ a quick side note. If you are ever traveling through Maine and are looking for a delicious lobster roll, the Two Lights Lobster Shack fully delivers! It is located right next to the lighthouses.

Please don’t take my images – my art is copyrighted.

Please don’t copy or use the image without receiving my permission first – see disclosure on the right panel.

This is beautiful, Mary! I love lighthouses. I once climbed what felt like a million steps to go into the lighthouse in Pt. Reyes, California. It is a beautiful place. It’s one of my favorite places by the ocean!

Thank you so much Bette for your wonderful comment on the drawing. Everyone should have one opportunity in their lifetime to visit the great State of Maine, it’s my favorite place that I’ve lived and really miss being there. Have a beautiful day too! And, thank you for sharing ~

A gorgeously atmospheric drawing, Mary: the lighthouse an alien presence rearing above what appears to be a crashing wave of vegetation, suggestive of the real breakers on the seaward side rolling in from Casco Bay. Inevitably I’m reminded of our local lighthouse at Talacre on the Point of Ayr, overlooking Liverpool Bay, built in 1776, one of our earliest lighthouses in Wales, disused since 1883 and reputedly haunted by the ghost of a former keeper…

Perhaps, three thousand miles away, your Two Lights lighthouse in Maine has a resident ghost or two as well?

Hi Paul, thanks so much for your response to the drawing – love your use of descriptives for this scene. You and Maureen would love the Maine coast, and yes I’ll bet there is a ghost story or two with this fascinating lighthouse. The lighthouse at Talacre on the Point of Ayr sounds intriguing and hmmm perhaps scary to visit – I’ll have to look it up to enjoy the old structure. Take care and thank you for taking time to visit.

You are so kind Cynthia – thank you for your thoughtful response and compliment with this drawing. It’s a great little area along the coast in Maine and this lighthouse is one of the gems you’ll find there. I’ve been missing reading everyone’s posts lately, hopefully I’ll be back into more of a routine – we’ve had a lot going on here. Looking forward to catching up and seeing what you’ve been doing – bet the garden is gorgeous!!

Hi, you can call me Scarlet.
I really like your work and I feel like that the artworks like yours is great for people to know and understand more about Maine than just in the traveling magazine, so is it okay if I repost this article of yours?
Thank you!

I understand Evelyne – it’s been very busy here too and I’ve not had much time to do my blogging and comment. That’s why I tend to click like so people know I’m still around. But hopefully can catch-up at some point and get into a normal routine of commenting.

Awesome Jo! Thanks very much and I’ll bet you’d have a wonderful time having your home be a lighthouse – just imagine the “wild” stories you’d have to tell. Better yet, the gorgeous photographs that would come from your lens. Hope you are having a beautiful weekend.

I’m so glad you enjoyed the trip Frank. Lighthouses are also fascinating structures to see, especially when waves crash wildly adding drama. Thanks so much Frank – good to see you again. Hope your golf season is going well ~

I happy to read that you are out on the course and working your game! I haven’t been around much as we are tending to elderly issues, but hopefully later this week I’ll be able to get through much of my Reader and see what you’ve been up to. Have a great rest of the week ~

Good morning Mary – Another superb image of a place I recognise very well….You have captured beautifully the organic quality of the natural brush against the strength of the lighthouse…Life savers of the seas. Happy creating ….Janet 🙂

Good Morning Janet – thanks so much, you are always so generous with your thoughts. It’s a special place up in Maine, this is one of those lighthouses that doesn’t get as much promotion as the Portland Headlight, but owns its share of history and beauty. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Hi Hien, thank you very much! A great compliment if the drawing moves you to consider traveling to the great State of Maine – the two lighthouses in Cape Elizabeth are actually on a road called, Two Lights Road. You guys would love the beautiful views and sites along the coast! Hope you include this area during your summer travels, can only imagine the beautiful photographs you’ll take.

Mary, Mary, Mary. You hit me hard with this one. 🙂 Beautiful, and you really should sell these gorgeous pieces of art. You are a very talented woman and have truly captured the beauty of Maine plus the food tip was good too. 🙂

Hi Jill – thanks so much it’s a wonderful place. This particular lighthouse doesn’t get nearly the same fanfare as Portland Headlight, but is just as much a beautiful structure. Glad you enjoyed the scene ~